More oil reportedly found in sunken former Staten Island Ferry

Associated PressThe decommissioned Staten Island Ferry, the Gov. Herbert H. Lehman, lists while docked at Steelways, Inc., on the Hudson River in Newburgh, N.Y. last month.

NEWBURGH, N.Y. -- A decommissioned Staten Island Ferry that began listing in the Hudson River after springing a leak last month continues to be an issue for officials.

An environmental cleanup company has been summoned to remove approximately 25 gallons of black engine oil found inside the half-sunken Herbert H. Lehman, according to a report by the Poughkeepsie Journal.

The oil was discovered yesterday as part of the salvage operation. The Lehman has remained at Steelways shipyard in Newburgh since it first began taking on water on March 3, according to the report.

"The latest report .. is that it seems about 25 gallons of black engine oil is on the floor of the ferry and is being cleaned up," Wendy Rosenbach, regional spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Conservation, told the Journal.

Ms. Rosenbach reportedly said there is no indication any of that oil has left the ship.

About 60 gallons of oil-water sheen was vacuumed up from the Hudson shortly after the Lehman took on water, the Journal reported.

The boat was decommissioned in 2007 and sold to a Bronx salvage yard, which was the top bidder in an auction held by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.

Last year, the boat was put on eBay for a price of $500,000.

Named for the late Gov. Herbert H. Lehman, the ferry belonged to the three-boat Kennedy class, which entered service in 1965.

According to the city Department of Transportation Web site, she's 297 feet long, and 69 feet, 10 inches wide, with a draft of 13 feet 6 inches, 2,109 gross tonnage and a service speed of 16 knots, 6,500 horsepower